🔴Waves Ocean Way Plugin vs. Abbey Road Studio 3 vs. Nx Virtual Mix Room

Summary

In this informative video, Bobby Bailo, a mixing and mastering engineer, explores the challenges of mixing and mastering music using headphones. He highlights the limitations of headphone listening, such as the absence of crosstalk and early reflections that affect depth perception. Bailo reviews Waves' NX technology, including the new Ocean Way Nashville plugin, which aims to create a realistic mixing environment by simulating acoustic spaces. He provides insights into setting up the plugins and offers practical recommendations for users, ultimately expressing confidence in achieving professional-quality mixes with these tools while working remotely.

Takeaways

• 😀 Mixing and mastering on headphones presents unique challenges due to lack of natural sound space and crosstalk.
• 🎧 Waves NX technology aims to improve headphone mixing by simulating a realistic mixing environment.
• 📦 There are three Waves NX plugins: NX Virtual Mix Room, Abbey Road Studio 3, and the new Ocean Way Nashville plugin.
• 🔊 The Ocean Way Nashville plugin offers features like adjustable ambience to better tailor the virtual space for mixing.
• 🧑‍🎤 Head tracking technology enhances the realism of the headphone experience by tracking head position for more accurate sound placement.
• 📏 The NX Virtual Mix Room allows users to customize the mixing environment by adjusting speaker positions and room ambience.
• 🎶 It's important to reference well-known tracks when using new monitoring systems to recalibrate listening perspectives.
• ⚖️ Consistency in monitoring is key; sticking with one plugin throughout the mixing process helps maintain focus and perspective.
• 🏆 The Ocean Way Nashville plugin has been found to produce mixes that closely resemble those made in a physical studio environment.
• 👍 Engaging with a community of music creators can provide support and insights into improving mixing and mastering skills.

Q & A

What is the main challenge of mixing and mastering on headphones?

The main challenge is that headphones do not provide a natural listening environment, lacking crosstalk and early reflections that speakers provide, making it difficult to judge depth, placement, and the acoustic characteristics of the mix.

What technology does Waves NX use to address headphone mixing challenges?

Waves NX technology simulates a virtual mixing environment that allows for better depth perception and spatial awareness, helping to bridge the gap between headphone mixing and traditional studio mixing.

What are the three different NX plugins mentioned in the video?

The three NX plugins are: NX Virtual Mix Room, Abbey Road Studio 3, and Ocean Way Nashville.

How does the Ocean Way Nashville plugin differ from Abbey Road Studio 3?

Ocean Way Nashville is preferred for its modern feel, consistent sound, simplified features, and an added ambience knob for better room simulation, making it easier to make mix decisions.

What feature allows the NX plugins to track head movements?

The head tracking feature can utilize either a Bluetooth tracker or a webcam to adjust the audio environment based on the listener's head position.

Why is room resonance important in mixing?

Room resonance affects how we perceive sound, influencing our judgments about reverb levels and low-end response, which are crucial for achieving a balanced mix.

What is the recommended method for using the plugins during mixing?

It is recommended to load the plugin on the output fader or the 2-bus and ensure to bypass or disable it before printing the final track.

What should users do to familiarize themselves with a new mixing environment?

Users should reference a variety of familiar songs in the new environment to recalibrate their listening and adjust their mixing techniques accordingly.

What headphone correction options are available in the NX plugins?

The NX plugins offer a built-in headphone EQ correction feature, as well as compatibility with external software like Sonarworks for more precise headphone calibration.

What is Bobby Bailo's overall impression of the Ocean Way Nashville plugin?

Bobby Bailo expresses a strong preference for the Ocean Way Nashville plugin, stating it produces mixes that sound very similar to those from a traditional studio, thereby validating its effectiveness for headphone mixing.